News
Playboy visit sparks UNC protest
Published: Apr 09, 2004 - 05:42 PM
CHAPEL HILL -- This year, those protesting Playboy magazine's "Girls of the ACC" pictorial had a novel approach to their activism -- they signed up for modeling sessions themselves. Ten female UNC-Chapel HIll students, one using the name "Sarah Leer," called to schedule interviews with Playboy representatives who were in town Monday to recruit models. They then sent a letter to Playboy corporate headquarters saying they wouldn't show up for their appointments."This is not about porn being offensive; that is, hurting our feelings or sensibilities," they wrote. "It's about the pornographic videos and magazines, like Playboy, that reinforce women's sexual objectification."
About 15 students gathered Monday on the steps of South Building at UNC-CH for a silent protest against Playboy's pictorial, which will feature nude and semi-nude photos of women from 11 Atlantic Coast Conference schools. The protesters held signs that said, "Playboy supports rape culture," and "My sexual pleasure shouldn't come from women's pain." The event was sponsored by a student group called "f.s.u," or feminist students united.
Meanwhile, at the Sheraton hotel in Chapel Hill, UNC-CH women arrived one by one, lip glossed and hip hugged, for their appointments.
Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey said about 30 had signed up by Monday. The magazine expects about 50 women total before interviews end later today.
Playboy representatives, saying they wanted to protect the women's privacy, refused to let journalists into the hotel suite where the photos were being shot.
Playboy visited N.C. State and Duke universities in March and will travel to Wake Forest University next week. Hennessey said she knew of no protests at other ACC campuses.
"Playboy isn't for everyone," she said. "If women aren't comfortable, we would never want to force that on anyone. ... [I]t's a woman's choice whether she wants to do it. That's part of women's rights, as well."
An advertisement in The Daily Tar Heel on Monday beckoned: "Attention female student body!
"Thousands of coeds have tried out for Playboy since it began its college conference pictorials 27 years ago. Many have gone on to become Playboy Playmates, models and actresses. Who knows what the future holds for you?"
On campus, the protesters stood for nearly an hour in the bright April sun. Rachel Gegen, a sophomore from Burlington, said the magazine demeans women and belittles their accomplishments, especially by focusing on college students.
"We're here, we're in school," she said. "I don't think we should be portrayed as sexual objects for someone else's pleasure."
Matt Ezzell, a graduate student in sociology, said Playboy sends the wrong message to men. "Playboy is part of the conditioning of men to see women as objects," he said. "In that sense, I think consuming pornography deforms our idea of sexuality."
The ACC women will be featured in the October issue.
Meanwhile, at the Sheraton hotel in Chapel Hill, UNC-CH women arrived one by one, lip glossed and hip hugged, for their appointments.
Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey said about 30 had signed up by Monday. The magazine expects about 50 women total before interviews end later today.
Playboy representatives, saying they wanted to protect the women's privacy, refused to let journalists into the hotel suite where the photos were being shot.
Playboy visited N.C. State and Duke universities in March and will travel to Wake Forest University next week. Hennessey said she knew of no protests at other ACC campuses.
"Playboy isn't for everyone," she said. "If women aren't comfortable, we would never want to force that on anyone. ... [I]t's a woman's choice whether she wants to do it. That's part of women's rights, as well."
An advertisement in The Daily Tar Heel on Monday beckoned: "Attention female student body!
"Thousands of coeds have tried out for Playboy since it began its college conference pictorials 27 years ago. Many have gone on to become Playboy Playmates, models and actresses. Who knows what the future holds for you?"
On campus, the protesters stood for nearly an hour in the bright April sun. Rachel Gegen, a sophomore from Burlington, said the magazine demeans women and belittles their accomplishments, especially by focusing on college students.
"We're here, we're in school," she said. "I don't think we should be portrayed as sexual objects for someone else's pleasure."
Matt Ezzell, a graduate student in sociology, said Playboy sends the wrong message to men. "Playboy is part of the conditioning of men to see women as objects," he said. "In that sense, I think consuming pornography deforms our idea of sexuality."
The ACC women will be featured in the October issue.
